Laid off after 38 years

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I am laid off after 38yrs of helping others as an RN. My place of employment finds it more cost-effective to hire LPNs and aides. I am single and on unemployment because a month ago, 4 RNS, all in their 50's and 60's were laid off on the same day. I am so angry! Isn't there anybody out there who is in the same situation? I don't have any family left, so my work is my life. I really need to talk to somebody in my situation! I am pretty scared and depressed-nobody is hiring in my area. Is there anybody out there, no matter what age, who is feeling the pinch of the economy? NURSE CHRIS

:uhoh3: HI ALL! WELL, I JUST GOT HOME FROM THAT INTERVIEW AT THE EXTENDED-CARE FACILITY. THEY REALLY GRILLED ME LIKE I HAVE NEVER BEEN GRILLED BEFORE-"HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THIS, HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THAT? I WAS RIGHT, THE DIRECTOR WAS VERY INTENSE. JUST TO MAKE IT TOUGHER, I WAS INTERVIEWED IN A TINY ROOM WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING, AND IT IS 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE HERE-IF THEY HAVE A "NEVER LET THEM SEE YOU SWEAT" PHILOSOPHY, I AM IN TROUBLE!

NONE OF MY CO-HORTS WANT TO SUE, AND I WILL ADMIT, I AM AFRAID TO TRY THAT ALONE-GOD,THIS IS TURNING INTO A DISGUSTING PROFESSION!!!

I WILL HEAR FROM THE "UBER-DIRECTOR" SOMETIME EARLY NEXT WEEK. IN THE MEANTIME, ON TO TOMORROW'S INTERVIEW AT THE NURSING HOME.

YOU GUYS ARE ALL THE GREATEST. YOU REMIND ME OF THE TWINLESS TWINS SUPPORT GROUP WHO SAVED MY LIFE WHEN MY LAST RELATIVE, MY SISTER KAY DIED. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS TO KEEP YOU SANE IN THESE SITUATIONS! THANKS, CHRIS.

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Best wishes Chris.

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Specializes in medical surgical.

I am not sure how this would work, but if you work in a "right to work state" can they let you go after age 50 just because they want to. Does anyone know. I live in the southeast and this is considered a right to work state which means they need no reason to let you go. I am not sure how the ageist position would work here though.

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You know,i just don't know what to think anymore! Whether they can fire me because i am older, just isn't an issue for me, anymore-i want a job!! I went to an interview at a nursing home this morning, and found that the director of nursing was in a 3-way phone call, and it would take up to 45 minutes-sorry! That is when she told me to come for an interview. I just left! She called back and apologized later, but i decided not to go back again today. I am taking the weekend off from interviews, turndowns and paperwork! I have no family or family money,and the rest of my fellow firees do-damn, i am angry! They can just say, "let my husband do it!"

nursing is all about money now, not help for people who need it. They depend on nurses to comfort them and keep them comfortable,but that is no longer what it is all about! Sorry, i am just really ****** right now. Thanks to you all for listening! Chris

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Chris, I am so sorry this is happening to you. It makes me angry just reading what you have been through.

You keep on pushing! Someone will hire you. You are an asset to this profession and us newbies need you.

Good luck!

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Sorry to hear this. But don't let it get to you or you might just pass by your chance. It is hard to go from thinking one is respected (38 years employed) to finding out one is disposable like trash. Do not go anywhere expecting to be treated with respect. You need a job and they know that. Good luck.

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Specializes in Psych.

You asked if anyone else is feeling the pinch of the economy. I sure am! I'm an unemployed new grad coming up on the 1 year mark since finishing my ABSN program. Although I had a job interview earlier this week that I'm cautiously optimistic about, last night and all of today I caved in to feelings of hopelessness and let the tears flow freely. While I normally cope with things in a generally positive manner...this economic climate leaves me sometimes feeling as if I hurtled suddenly through time and space to find myself on a whole new planet I'm not quite sure how to function on. :uhoh3:

Moving, as so many others have, was not an option for me. It's not so easy to do when you have a mortgage and there's no market for your home, and you don't want to have to sell at a significant loss.

I've felt like a real freak these past 24 hours...some sort of societal misfit or something. Screaming silently, "I'm NEVER going to get a job ever again!!!" while lying on my bed trying to stifle the wracking sobs. Yeah...I'm familiar with unemployment blues...intimately so! :crying2:

But I guess now that I'm finally all tuckered out from crying, the rational part of my brain is slowly taking over again. :idea:

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HEY! WHODATNURSE-I know just what you are feeling-I wake up early in the morning feeling panicky and depressed,BUT IT IS ONLY A FEELING!! Get up, exercise any way you can,and get out of the house if you are inside and feeling confined! Do not take this personally! This is probably the worst economy in 80yrs,and you need to keep going for YOUR sake! Darn right it is scary! I was let go along with 4 other RN's over 50. We were all healthy and hard-working. Keep looking,and don't be down on yourself for feeling depressed or moody. I have no family, or family money. All the other RN's who lost their jobs are married,and are retiring and taking care of their grandchildren. Those of us who don't have family to rely on are under a lot of stress, and it is an injustice to people like us,at both ends of out careers,that we are stuck in this mess. Keep trying! Apply and if you don't hear in one week, call again! I wish I had more advice to give you,but be as tough as you can, and keep trying! Stay on this site,too! It is a great help to have back-up in a tough situation. Love and Prayers, Chris!

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